West Side Union Elementary School in Healdsburg, California on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Side Union Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":8.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5975692,"projectId":9693665,"letterContent":"Your generosity enabled my class to observe and study the concept of life cycles through raising butterflies. \r\n\r\nOn the first day, the students carefully filled their plastic cups with food for their larvae and gently brushed their little caterpillars into each cup. The caterpillars were all named, and then watched carefully each day for signs of change. The students were excited to see them grow and become fuzzy, and then climb up and form chrysalises. They were worried when many of the caterpillars ate the tissue on the top of the cup, but at the end they were all fine and we transferred them into the butterfly habitats we received from you. \r\n\r\nWe were able to watch them, draw and paint them as caterpillars, make monoprints of the chrysalises, and then finally make monoprints of the fully developed butterflies using the gelli prints and rollers we received. \r\n\r\nYour generosity brought science and art together for the children and created a beautiful experience. Although the butterflies were released in our school garden with much encouragement to fly and be free, the butterfly prints were kept and treasured by all of the students.\r\n\r\nThank you for your kindness and support in purchasing the art and science supplies for these third graders' education!","fullyFundedDate":1757539581426,"projectUrl":"project/butterflies-and-prints/9693665/","projectTitle":"Butterflies and Prints","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5975692_orig.jpg?crop=627,627,x934,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1554507300389","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5975692"},{"teacherId":5546215,"projectId":9724160,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your donation to our small garden program at our elementary school. The students enjoyed reading to the chickens, reading in the tree and painting pots. We have plenty more projects to paint and the chickens love to be ready to!\r\n\r\nNext rainstorm will bring us indoors where we will be painting bookmarks of plants.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is very much appreciated. The kids love the books and the paints will last awhile! Please check out the photos of our projects. Garden time is a highlight!","fullyFundedDate":1760464596485,"projectUrl":"project/painting-in-the-garden-reading-to-the-c/9724160/","projectTitle":"Painting In The Garden, Reading To The Chickens","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stefanie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5546215_orig.jpg?crop=1948,1948,x1034,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695355123516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5546215"},{"teacherId":5546215,"projectId":9424080,"letterContent":"We had such a great time with our projects at the start of this year. Your help is terrific. With the clay, the students made models of \"dream gardens\" which included found nature items to represent trees, bushes flowers etc. The clay also created water features: tiny rivers, ponds, lakes. The metal watering cans were immedialy in use to tend the fall garden areas ! And, the well-loved chickens enjoyed all their hand-fed snacks. Your generosity is appreciated by all, especially the students and the hens :)","fullyFundedDate":1757423377095,"projectUrl":"project/start-the-year-in-the-garden/9424080/","projectTitle":"Start The Year In The Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stefanie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5546215_orig.jpg?crop=1948,1948,x1034,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695355123516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5546215"},{"teacherId":4696832,"projectId":9594822,"letterContent":"We are an active class (and die-hard soccer/ futbol fans)! We have been integrating our new PE equipment for movement breaks and community/ team-building games. This equipment also supports our efforts in ensuring students receive quality health education related activities throughout the week.\r\n\r\nBy ensuring students have access to equipment, we are creating healthy routines and associations with exercise at an impressionable and critical age where body image and physical changes are at the forefront of our minds. Thank you for helping us create a safe, fun and supportive space!","fullyFundedDate":1755557345457,"projectUrl":"project/bobcats-on-the-move/9594822/","projectTitle":"Bobcats on the Move!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fossett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4696832"},{"teacherId":4696832,"projectId":9561323,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous gifts! Students were thrilled to see tissues samples of the human body under the microscope (EX: lung, muscle, bone and blood). We then discussed, sketched and shared ideas to model these tissues and structures through lung and arm models. You might even say we are well on our way to creating a full \"bionic man\" (according to my students!). \r\n\r\nWe have also been using these microscopes to take our own samples and make slides to identify the intricate reproductive parts of plants (flowers) from our school garden. Students will also be using the microscopes to observe, study and illustrate their assigned native plant's health and growth/ decline throughout the course of the school year (climate/ ecology research project). \r\n\r\nI am so excited to continue finding ways to integrate this incredible resource into our learning all year long!","fullyFundedDate":1754952424530,"projectUrl":"project/6th-grade-stem-initiative/9561323/","projectTitle":"6th Grade STEM Initiative","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fossett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4696832"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5222","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":137,"numTeachers":7,"percentFrplEligible":36,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":71,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"19.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":91.6,"schoolId":5222,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Side Union Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Side Union Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/west-side-union-elementary-school-district/west-side-union-elementary-school/5222"}

About this school

West Side Union Elementary School is a rural public school in Healdsburg, California that is part of West Side Union Elementary School District. It serves 137 students in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 19.6:1. Its teachers have had 55 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades K - 6

137 Students

7 Teachers

1201 Felta Rd

Healdsburg, CA 95448 View local requests

http://westsideusd.org

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at West Side Union Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

West Side Union Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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West Side Union Elementary School Demographics

36%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

22%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

West Side Union Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jun 24, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.